As adults, we sometimes find it difficult to strike up conversations with young people. They seem to speak a different language, and their interests can feel unfamiliar and fast-moving. But we were young once too. And we didn’t just care about trends. We cared about justice, fairness, and the world around us, too.
One space where this communication gap becomes especially urgent is data governance. While it may sound abstract and highly technical, data governance has real, everyday consequences, especially for young people. Hyper-connected through phones and other smart devices, youth produce a massive volume of data every day. This data, in turn, has the power to shape their living environment, influence their choices, and perhaps change the course of their lives.
Young people have the right to define the systems that affect them so deeply. If there is a gap in enabling that participation, it is our collective responsibility to bridge it.
So how do we spark young people’s interest in something as abstract as “data,” a term that often feels virtual, distant, or irrelevant to daily life? And how do we make “governance,” with all its complexity and institutional weight, feel approachable rather than intimidating?
At the UN World Data Forum, stakeholders came together to commit and advance responsible data governance and meaningful youth engagement. We are excited to highlight a resource from one of the coalition members, the Datasphere Initiative’s Youth4Data Lab Toolkit, a hands-on resource derived from the Youth4OurDataFuture project, and designed to help organizations, institutions and communities move beyond tokenistic youth engagement toward authentic, participatory data governance.
Rather than beginning with technical definitions or abstract systems, the Toolkit starts where young people already are, with their everyday experiences, frustrations, hopes, and questions. And data isn’t framed as a subject that often feels distant, but as a thread woven through issues that already matter to them: education, online safety, mental health, and more.
In the following Q&A with Mariana Rozo-Paz, a Policy, Research, and Project Management Lead at the Datasphere Initiative, we reflect on the project’s evolution, what they learned from more than 15,000 young people across the world, and how the Toolkit is helping bridge the gap between youth and the complex world of data governance.
Youth4Data lab at the COP16 in Cali, Colombia, October 2025
Q: How did the Youth4OurDataFuture project evolve into the Youth4Data Lab Toolkit? What needs or gaps motivated the shift from engagement to creating a hands-on resource?
The story began in 2023, when the Datasphere Initiative launched the Youth4OurDataFuture project, following its selection as one of the winners of the Future of Data Challenge by the Omidyar Network. This support allowed us to turn our vision into action: engaging young people globally in meaningful conversations about data, digital systems, and the future of technology governance.
Over the course of two years, we reached more than 15,000 young people in over 17 countries through a mix of interviews, online workshops, interactive sessions, and a global social media campaign. In the second phase of the project, we introduced the Youth4Data Lab, a participatory space where youth could co-create, reflect, and take ownership of these complex topics in ways that felt relevant to their lives and communities.
Throughout this process, it became clear that while many institutions are eager to involve youth in shaping the digital future, they often lack the tools, skills, and methodologies to do so effectively. That’s what led us to develop the Youth4Data Lab Toolkit, a practical resource grounded in the insights and practices that emerged from this two-year journey.
The Toolkit captures both our engagement methodology and key findings from the project. It serves as a guide for policymakers, tech companies, educators, NGOs, and others seeking to move beyond tokenistic participation and meaningfully involve youth in shaping responsible, inclusive digital systems.
Q: What did you learn from young people during this process that surprised you—or changed the direction of the Toolkit?
Young people consistently connected data to broader social and personal concerns, like education access, mental health, migration, climate action, and gender-based violence. These connections shaped the direction of the Youth4Data Labs: rather than treating data as a standalone topic, we designed the materials to integrate with themes youth were already thinking about.
It also became clear that different communities needed different entry points. This shifted the design to be modular and adaptable, allowing for local relevance while maintaining a consistent structure. Youth also emphasized the need for clear language, interactive formats, and spaces for reflection, which led us to prioritize creative and discussion-based activities over technical content.
Q: Where has the Toolkit already been piloted or used in practice, and what outcomes have you seen so far?
The Toolkit has been piloted with youth from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and North America. It has been used in a variety of settings—including the Data Festival in Uruguay, the UN World Data Forum, the COP16 on Biodiversity in Colombia, and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024. Each of these Labs placed youth at the center of the conversation, both as participants and co-creators.
Across these engagements, the Toolkit has sparked meaningful dialogue and actively involved young people in conversations about data, technology, and digital governance. Beyond building awareness and confidence, it has helped translate youth perspectives into concrete policy recommendations. Notably, insights and proposals generated through the Labs were synthesized into a policy brief that was adopted by the T20 in Brazil in 2024, demonstrating how youth voices can directly inform global policy agendas. The Toolkit bridges abstract, often technical concepts with the everyday realities and aspirations of young people.
Youth4Data lab at the Data Festival in Uruguay, November 2024
Q: How are young people themselves engaging with the Toolkit? Any feedback examples from early adopters?
Young people have engaged with the Toolkit through Labs, peer exchanges, and hands-on co-creation activities. For example, at the UN World Data Forum, we brought together youth from Latin America and Africa to explore the impacts of data on their communities and collectively imagine healthier online ecosystems. Their feedback was clear: starting from their everyday experiences and emotions made the discussions feel relevant, accessible, and empowering.
Participants appreciated that the Toolkit doesn’t treat them as passive learners, but as active agents of change. Many noted its flexibility—whether used in a classroom, a youth summit, or a community event—and how it made abstract issues like data governance and AI ethics feel tangible and personal. Importantly, they also contributed to improving it, shaping language and examples to better reflect their diverse realities.
Perhaps the most important takeaway has been the critical need for intergenerational resources and spaces that bring decision makers and youth together, speaking the same language. This shared understanding and collaboration are essential to addressing complex, systemic challenges—like shaping healthier online well-being—and ensuring solutions reflect the perspectives and needs of all generations.
Q: What sets the Youth4Data Lab Toolkit apart from other youth-focused resources in the data governance space?
The Youth4Data Lab Toolkit is distinct in how it prioritizes context and adaptability. Rather than offering a fixed curriculum, it’s designed to be shaped by the communities and individuals using it. It doesn’t assume prior knowledge, but it also doesn’t oversimplify, striking a balance between accessibility and depth.
Another key difference is its interdisciplinary structure. It connects data and AI governance to real-life themes like the future of work, online safety, mental health, and the environment. This approach helps youth see the relevance of these systems to their everyday lives and to the societal challenges they care about.
Q: Can you highlight one or two specific methods or tools in the kit that you have found especially useful or transformative?
One of the most transformative aspects of our approach has been starting with what youth genuinely care about—issues like identity, safety, creativity, and community—before diving into more technical topics. This has proven incredibly powerful in creating space for meaningful conversations and sustaining youth engagement over time.
A key method that brings this to life is our emphasis on emotional reflection throughout the Labs. We dedicate time to exploring how youth feel about the topics being discussed—whether it’s data collection, algorithmic bias, or online expression. This emotional anchoring allows them to connect their lived experiences to broader systems and fosters deeper critical thinking.
Q: What’s next for the Toolkit? Are there plans for scaling, localizing, or expanding its reach?
Absolutely. We’re currently adapting the Toolkit to different cultural and linguistic contexts and developing a digital version to overcome physical constraints and reach young people wherever they are. Meanwhile, we’re working to launch a new project focused on youth influencers. The goal is to use our methodology to engage youth, influencers, parents, tech companies, and other stakeholders to collectively rethink what healthier and more inclusive online communities could look like. This initiative represents the coalition we’re excited to build—one that centers youth leadership while fostering shared responsibility across sectors.
We've also seen strong interest from NGOs, youth-led organizations, and educational institutions, particularly those aiming to strengthen digital literacy, civic engagement, and responsible technology use. We are in conversations with partners across sectors who are eager to co-create this broader project around youth influencers and healthier digital spaces. These discussions are helping us ensure that the toolkit—and the coalition it supports—fosters meaningful and inclusive participation wherever it is adopted. If people reading this are interested in partnering or scoping potential collaborations, we will be happy to hear from you at [email protected].